Well Water Filtration – Why You Need it Even If You Have No Neighbors, Farms Or Factories Nearby
Well water filtration is an issue for those of us who depend on wells. Because even if there are no other homes near us, and no factories or farms close enough to spoil our groundwater, chemicals and disease-bearing organisms get into our water.
In other words, we have to check well water filtration and purity even in areas where we would expect the ground water to be as clear and cool as spring water bubbling up from the ground.
There are at least six naturally occurring contaminants regularly found in wells.
First point, notice I said ‘naturally occurring’ contaminants. There are things that get into well water and make it unhealthy even when there are no neighbors, farms or factories within miles of our well.
And second, what are the six natural threats to well water?
Microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and parasites are found in wells and especially in shallow wells. They frequently enter the ground water system which your well taps in to as runoff — water spills over the soil, picks up harmful micro-organisms, and carries them down into the underground aquifers. You’ll know if you have them because some of the people drinking the water will get hit with nausea and diarrhea.
Radionuclides are radioactive elements like uranium and radium. They’re found in underground rocks and are dissolved into well water. Obviously you want to use a well water filtration system to block them.
The gas radon is produced when uranium in the ground breaks down. It’s dangerous if you breath it in, and is linked to lung cancer.
Nitrates and nitrites come from animal and human wastes, but they can also be found in ground water naturally in areas where there is no human or farm activity. As nitrogen compounds in soil break down they produce nitrates and nitrites and these are carried by water down into the ground water that wells draw from.
Heavy metals are sometimes found in well water because rocks deep in the earth may contain arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead and selenium. All of which are harmful in large quantities. Fortunately, these metals are uncommon in well water.
Some areas have high levels of fluoride in the soil, and this will get into well water. Small amounts of fluoride is helpful for teeth and bone growth, but excess is harmful so consider using a well water filtration system to block them or limit them.
If any of these six are in yours then a well water filtration system will save you and your family a lot of health problems.
Fortunately, there are a number of good well water filtration systems available. Some are expensive, but a moderately priced one should be able to keep out these naturally occurring contaminants as well as the many more human-generated contaminants such as farm and home garden fertilizers and pesticides.
A combination of water filters will keep you safest because filters are designed to block specific contaminants and one will not cover all the problems. And while you are thinking about blocking contaminant, you also need to make sure you get purifiers that will not block the healthy natural minerals such as calcium and magnesium that are dissolved in underground water and which you body absolutely must have to be healthy.
My web site has tips on filters that would work on your well, and you may like to take a look there. For example I say things about water purification systems based on reverse osmosis. (My recommendation is – don’t use reverse osmosis. One reason is because the waste water they produce is many times the volume of the pure water they turn out.) But whatever you do, look for a well water filtration system that has more than one type of filter.
By Anonymous
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